Mail-sorting, postmarking, and stamp-canceling device.



E. ,e. HOPP. MAIL SORTING, POSTMARKING, AND STAMP CANCELING DEVICE.

Patented Feb. 20,1917;

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET I APPLIFiATlON FILED FEB. H 1914.

INVENTOI? Emil G. Hop 0 WITNESSES.-

,4 TTORNEYS E. G. HOPP. MAIL SORTING, POSTMARKING, AND STAMP CANCELINGDEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB- ll I914. Patented Feb. 20 5 SHEETSSHEET 22WITNESSES l/V VE IV TOR Emil GHqo o.

BY vM OR/VEYS E. G. HOPP.

MAI'L SORTING POSTMARKING, AND STAMP- CA NCELING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. H 1914- I Patented Feb. 20,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

63 4666; jmx 54 5 W/TIVESSES: I llVVE/VTOI? E IGH. W v I l ,4 ATTORNEYSumrnn srerrns rA'rniwr crim .EMIL e. HOPP, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

MAIL-SOR'I'ING,'IPOSTMARKING, 'AIN'D STAMP-CANGELING DEVICE.

To all wkomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL G. Horr, a citi-- zen of the United States, andaresident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King, State ofWashington, havevinvented a new and useful Mail-Sorting, Postmarking,and Stamp-Canceling Device, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention is intended to receive the letters in a confused mass andthrough the v combination of electrical, magnetic and mechanicaldevices, sort and postmark the letters and cancel the stamps thereon;The principle involved to accomplish this result and the novel means bywhich it is carried into execution, is the treating of the Govern} mentstamp metallically sothat magnetic or electical means will act upon it.

This departure from a purely paper stamp by the Government would simplynecessitate,

a change of process in making the stamps. The additional cost would behardly computable.

The introduction of the metallically treated stamps on the mail piecesprovides the means of closing an electric circuit to mag.- nets, and byother mechanical means the mail pieces are sorted by the attraction ofthe stamps thereon. .In the form preferred by me I have shown themetallically treated stamps adapted toclose an electric circuit tomagnets in passage between metallic rings connected to said magnets. Thelocation of the stamps in passage therebetween prede termine the circuitclosed to the respective -me, my invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts to be nore fully described hereafter andparticularly set forth inthe claims. Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings forining a part of the specification in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate'co-rresponding parts in all thefigures.

igure 1 is a top view of the machine. Fig. 2' top view of rear end ofthe canceling machine.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

the gates.

Fig. .3 is a side view of the feed rollers.

v Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed February 11, 1914. Serial No. 818,172.-

Fig. 4; is a longitudinal sectional view of I Fig. 1, out along line4-4, showing side view ,of edger plates, cranks, partof chute fromhopper.

Fig-5. is a transverse sectional view of Fig.- 1, out along line 5-5,showing end view mail piece is released.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal. sectional view of magnets, the arms, and shaftupon which they are mounted- Figs. 8 and 9, 10 and-11, 12 and l3, 14 and15, show the relative positions of the stamps on the mail pieces, andthe respective guideways into which they enter.

Fig. 16 is a side view of down guide-ways and mail piece turner.

Fig. 17 shows the armature drawn down, and trip device for releasingsame.

Fig. 18"is a side view of canceling hub and trip roller. 1 Y

Fig. 19 shows top view of trip mechanism for canceling stamp at rear ofmail piece. Fig. 20 shows top view of trip mechanism for conceling stampwith trip against face of mail piece.

Fig. 21 is end view of mail piece turner,

showing clips for retaining the mail pieces.

Fig. 22 is a top view of the sorting device,

showing the electro mechanism for shifting Fig. 23 rollers.

Figs. 24 and 25, show a plurality of gates and two relative positionsassumed when the mail pieces are to be received therein.

Figs. 26, 27, 28 and 29,-show thefour posiis a sectional view of thesorting ti'ons occupied by the stamps on the mailstood that variousequivalents exist for independent elements. I have illustrated such themetallically treated stamp in closing an electriccircuit to magnets,which actuate'the gates-and switches the mail pieces into theirrespective guide-ways, or the alternative ,of

closing a magnetic circuitthrough magnets as will carry into effect thefunctions and aims of my invention, namely, the action of to actdirectly or indirectly on metallically treated stamps and carry the mailpieces.

' vibrated horizontally by a connecting rod,

fulcrurned to a crank, or otherwise. Underneath the hopper T haveprovided a series of edger plates, 5, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Theseedger plates extend longitudinally in relation to the frame of themachine, and are operated by rods, 4, which are pivotally attached totheupper extensions of the edger plates and to a crank shaft, 3. Thiscrankshaft is in turn mounted within bearings, 13, secured rigidly tothe frame of the machine. Near the center of the edger plates is atransverse rod, 7, extending through the vibrating edger plates, 5, and

the double guide plates, 11, and acts as a pivotal mounting for. saidplates. It can be observed when power is applied to the driving gear,12, Fig. 1, the crank shaft 3 is rotated and an ocillating movement isthereby imparted to the edger plates, 5, alternatingly, which rockviolently enough to toss mail pieces so that they will fall on edgebetween stationary plates, 6 and 11.. These stationary plates runparallel with the others and are supported by rods, 9 and 10, to theframe of the machine. Just beneath the stationary plates is the movablebelt 14 which extends across the entire width of the hopper, and ismounted in the usual way upon a pulley 15 on shaft 16 j ournaled inbearings 17 As soon .as letters come in contact with the movable beltthey are carried forward thereon. The stationary plates serve to keepthem in an upright position while in transit and from being crushed bythe vibrating edger plates. Upon reaching rod 8, Fig. 4, any mail piecestanding on end will be knocked down horizontally and. proceed thenceonward between guide plates, 21, which keep the mail pieces on edge andsheer them all in one common guide-way where they are assisted intransit by a vertical belt, 20, which is supported on two verticalpulleys, 22 and 23, respectively. A

separator, 24, of well known construction, is

yieldingly mounted at the terminus of'the belt, which serves to permitthe mail pieces to be advanced consecutively therethrough to the sortingr'olles 25-D'and 25-E as shown in Fig. 22. These sorting rollers areself-adjusting, to accommodate difi'erent thlckness of mail pieces, andare pivoted at 3-a on a fork rod, 3-5, which passes through plate 3-C,which plate is securely attached to the frame X, Fig. 22. Set screws,S-d, are adapted to adjust the distance between sorting rollers 25-D and25-E and sectional view thereof and 3-P shows hard rubber insulation,which is grounded on the shafts S-C, 8-D, S-E and 8-F of the sortingrollers, thence through said shafts to rings 3-W on sorting rollers.These rings are located on sorting roller 25-1) at the top half thereofand on sorting roller 25-1) on the bottom half thereof, on 25-E at thetop half, and on 25-15 at the bottom half there of, thus if a mail pieceenters between sorting rollers 25-1) and 25-E and the stamp occupies theposition on mail piece as shown by 60-0 Fig. 26, it closes circuitthrough the rings '3-L and 3-W 0n sorting roller 25-15 thence throughbolt 3-M and commutator 3-K and brush 3-J to wire 3-H4, thence throughmagnet 3-8, and back to source of supply. It can be readily understoodthat the electric energy to magnet 3-S attracts the armature which isrigidly attached to the fulcrum of gate 3-4" and throws it to theposition in Fig. 22 thereby opening guideway B. I

If a mail piece enters between sorting rollers, 25-1) and 25-E and thestamp occupies the position thereon as shown by (SO-A, Fig. 29, it doesnot close the circuit on sorting roller 25-D as the stamp passes undertherings thereof and advances between sorting rollers 25-D and 25-E'.

fulcrum of the gate 4-C and throws it in the position as shown in Fig.25 thereby opening guide-way A.

If the stamp occupies the position on a mail piece as shown by GO-D Fig.28 it enters between sorting rollers 25-D and 25-E and the stamp passesabove rings 3-L and 3-W and advances to sorting rollers 25-D and 25-Eclosing circuit across rings 3-L and 3-W on sorting roller 25-E. thencethrough circuit as aforesaid out to wire 3-H3 to magnet 3'l[ and backtosource of supply. The electric energy to magnet 3-T thus attracts thearmature which is rigidly attached to the fulcrum of the gate 4-?) andthrows it in position as shown in Fig. 24 thereby opening guide-way D.

If the stamp occupies position or. a mail piece as shown at 60-B Fig.27, it enters between sorting rollers 25-1) and 25-E, and the stamp nowcloses circuit across It can be observed that rings 3-L and 3W onsorting. roller 25+D, thence through aforesaid circuit to wire 3HI,thence through magnet 3W and back to source of supply. The electricenergy to magnet 3W attracts the armature which is rigidly attached tothe fulcrume of the gate, 3 and throws it to the position as shown indotted lines, Fig. 22, thereby opening guide-way C.

It can be readily seen that the spring 4a holds gates 4-0 and 46 inposition as shown in Fig. 22 when not acted upon by magnets 3R and 3T,and the spring 7 4D holds the gate 34 in a central position'when notacted upon by magnets 3S or 3-W.

In the alternative sorting device as illustrated in Fig. 6, the mailpieces are advanced consecutively through the separator 24 to theelectro-magnets, 25B2 and 25T. These magnets are constructed of ahorseshoe design on a pivot, 30, allowing the magnets thereby to swingwhen guide shoe, 29, comes in contact with guide rod, 27 When the magnethas left, the guide rod 27 spring 42, acting on arni, 41, within atelescopic sleeve 43 forces the magnet out until pins, 31, Fig. 6, comein contact with shoulder, 32, thus holding the face of the magnets inparallel relation to the guide rods, 27, while making the revolutionround to the other end thereof. Electric power is supplied to themagnets through guide shoe, 29, and guide rod, 27, or throughcommunicating commutator rings fastened to shafts, 28, and properlyinsulated. sleeves 42 upon which the magnets 25-T and 25-B2 are mountedare rigidly attached j to the shafts 28. These shafts are rotated invthe direction of arrows A and 80B, preferably by belts 28+.Y actuatingthe pulleys 28.X from a source of power (not shown) and the rotativespeed thereof is gradriated to equal that of the speed rollers 3 It canbe readily seen when the magnets piece firmly to its face and advancesthem to their respective guide-ways, according to the position of thestamps on the mail pieces, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, l0 and 11, 12and'13, 14 and 15, to be hereinafter described.

Fig. 6 shows the magnet, 25B2, just before contact with the guide rod 27and dottedlines of magnet 25B2 shows its-position just before releasingthe mail piece 60A. It is to be "observed that an outward curvature82,rL, is .provided on the releasing end of guide rod, 27, to insure anoutward thrust to mail piece 60-A, as shown in Fig. 11, where it. entersbetween roller 34A and guide 35-L advancing it The telescopic.

25T in Fig. 6 shows its contact with the stamp 60B acting through themail piece. Said stamp is in the position on the mail pieceas-illustrated in Figs. 12, and 13, with the stamps at the rear and topthereof, the corresponding action takes place as herein described in60C, which causes the mail piece to be thrust into opening 40, andadvanced into guide-way C. Likewise magnet 25T controls mail piece withstamp at 60D as shown in Fig. 14, where the corresponding action takesplace as herein described in 60A, which causes the mail piece to bethrust between roller 34D and guide 35R- into guide-way D as shown inFig. 15. Hence can be observed from the description of the two relativepositions of the magnets as illustrated, the way in which each mailpiece is thrust into predetermined guide-ways, determinable by theposition of the stamp thereon, The rollers, 37, are so located in therespective guide-ways as to keep the mail pieces in transit at apredetermined speed. These rollers are mountedupon shafts, one of whichhas a universal joint 88, as shown in Fig. 3, and is adapted to beyieldingly mounted on bearing 87, and guide 85, and held in position byspring 86. It is to be understood that the mail pieces in the upperguide-ways, D andjC, have to be turned over for their stamps to be actedupon by the canceling die, hence the provision of the mechanism as shownin Fig. 16; as will be hereinafter described.

Mail pieces in guide-ways A and B are advanced down inclinesconsecutively by roller, 38T, which is provided with a rubber bandaround its periphery and located near the top of the slotted guide-way,so as to thrust the mail piece downwardly therein where it is acted uponby roller 38B set at an angle near the bottom of the guideway,

which acts likewise as herein shown," and advances it in a straight lineto the canceling die. The mail pieces traveling in guideways D and C areadvanced to turner 44A and 44B respectively.

.This letter turner,44, as shown in Fig. 16, is provided with clipguide-ways 84 for the mail pieces to be advanced therein from therespective guide-ways by feed rollers. Two- .notches, 82, are providedin the top and bot-.

tom, to allow passage past rollers 81, when the mail piece is out ofturner 44. This turner is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 83 and operatedby a friction gear, 59,.and held by spring, 60. The trip, 50, which isheld in electric circuit, and rests on shoulder 56.

When the mail piece passes out of rollers 45, and has entered the turner44,'rollers 45, which are insulated on the shafts, again close theelectric circuit, and magnet 46 now acts on armature 48 which is,pivoted on the rod 58 and draws it down, also drawing down trip 50, thusleaving turner 44, free to turn the mail piece, at sametime armature 48strikes trip 52, which is held in place by spring 51, thereby releasingarmature 53,-

which is now acted on by magnet 47 and' is drawn down, thus breaking thecircuit to magnet 46 and releasing armature 48, which is drawn up withtrip 50 to check turner 44 by spring 49/ The rollers 81 then advance themail pieces toward postmarking and canceling die. In Fig. 19 trip lever63 pivotally mounted on lever at 71 is held in position against stop78by spring 68A. The projection of the lever 63 and arm 70 respectivelyserve to-prevent swinging motion to the lever63 in its tilted position.The spring likewisecommunicates pressure to lever 7 7 which is pivotedto the lever 63,

holding the catch on the end thereof on the,

pin 64, thereby preventing'the post marking and canceling die fromrevolving until the mail piece enters between rollers 61, which wouldmove lever 63 in position of dotted line as shown in Fig. 19. Thisaction releases pin 64, and thc die will revolve until catch strikes pin65. The die is .arrested thereby and held in position as shown in Fig.20 with trip 63 against the face of the mail piece until the end of saidmail piece passes trip 63, which then snaps back to its normal positionas shown in Fig. 19 so as to allow pin 65 to pass thereunder and the diemakes the revolution and is again arrested by lever 77 and pin 64. i

It is to be readily seen that these mail pieces in A and B guide-waysdrop down slightly a little more than their height, so that themailpieces in guide-ways D and C are directly'over them.

The speed of all the mail pieces is accurately graduated by theadvancing rollers, so that each mail piece keeps its relative distancein advance of the one following, regardless of the guide-way withinwhich it is traveling: For instance, the mail piece in guide-way C, isspaced about one inch in advance of the letter in guide-way B when itenters the turner '44-B, Fig. 2, where it is turned upside down, so thatall mail pieces going to canceling die B66 will have the stamps thereonat the back and bottom facing canceling die B66. Likewise the mailpieces from guide-way A, have traveled the down chute 39, and crossedover underneath the frame, X to left, in line and under guidewa-y D. Asthe stamp of the mail piece entering guide-way A is at the front andbottom thereon, it need not be turned for the cancellation of the stamp.The mail piece entering guide-way D, the stamp beingat front and top,has to be turned, hence it is thereby advanced to turner -44-A, wherethe action takes place, and the mail piece is dropped into the guide-wayA, on'the lower platform L, shown in Fig. 16. The letter in guide-way C-is advanced to the turner 44-A where the action takes place and isdropped into guide-way B on lower platform L. Thus all letters inguide-ways A and D are now in guide-way A and all letters fromguide-ways B and C are in guideway B lower platform L. It can be readilyseen that the canceling post-marking die A ,66, post marks and cancelsthe stamps on ,the front "and bottomof mail pieces traveling in-guide-way A, and canceling die B-66, post marks and cancels the stampsat the rear and bottom of mail pieces traveling in guide-way B fromwhence they are passed onto a stacker of any well known construction.

The post marking and canceling die as shown in Fig. 18, consists of adouble trip roller 61 mounted on shaft 62 rotating within bearing onframe L. A pulley 67 mounted on said shaft is actuated by belt 68 havingcontact with a similar pulley mounted on the shaftof the die B-66. Thepost marking and canceling die A-66 as shown in Fig. 2, is of well knownconstruction.

The printing pressureroller 67-A Fig. 19 is a well known form ofconstruction yieldingly mounted opposite die to insure perfectimpression of post mark, and cancellation of the stamp.

Having thus indicated the ends sought by me, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is;

1. In a mail sorting device, a mail sorting mechanism adapted to receivemail pieces, rollers adapted to advance said mail pieces in an uprightposition, said mail pieces being provided with metallically treatedstamps a plurality of magnets, an electric circuit connecting saidmagnets, said metallically treated stamps on said mail pieces adapted toclose said electric circuit to said 'predetermining pieces beingprovided with metallicallytreated stamps, a plurality of magnets, anelectric circuit connecting said magnets, said metallically treatedstamps on said mail pieces adapted to close said electric circuit acrosstwo points on an open circuit to said magnets and predetermine selectivemagnets to which said circuit is closed by the location of said stamps,a plurality of gates, armatures connecting said gates and controllingthe movement thereof by the attraction of said magnets, therebypredetermining the guide-way into which said mail pieces enter.

3. I11 a mail sorting device, a mail sorting mechanism adapted toreceive mail pieces, rollers adapted to advance said mail pieces in anupright position, said mail pieces being provided with metallicallytreated stamps, a plurality of magnets, anelectric circuit connectingsaid magnets, said metallically treated stamps on said mail piecesadapted to close said electric circuit across metallic rings connectedto said magnets and predetermine the selective magnet to which saidcircuit is closed by the location of said stamps, a plurality of gates,armatures connecting said gates and controlling the move! ment thereofby the attraction of said mag nets, thereby predeterminingthe guide-wayinto which said mail pieces enter.

4. In a mail sorting device, a mail sorting mechanism adapted to receivemail pieces, rollers adapted to advance said mail pieces 5th day ofFebruary, 1914.

to guide ways in an upright position, said mail pieces being providedwith metallically treated stamps, a plurality of electro-mag nets, anelectric circuit connecting said electro-magnets, said metallicallytreated stamps on said mail pieces adapted to close one circuit onlysaid electro-magnets in passing, a plurality of gates, armaturesconnecting said gates and so disposed as to control the movement thereofby the attraction of said electro-magnets as and in the manner setforth.

J 5. In a mail sorting device, a sorting mechanism comprising a seriesof speed rollers adapted to keep the mail pieces intransit in guide-Waysat a graduated speed, means of conducting-the mall pieces of tWoguideways directly to their respective canceling dies, means of turningthe mail pieces of two guide-ways and transposing them into thecompanion guide-Ways of the mail pieces unturned to travel uniformlywith the mail pieces in transit therein to the respective cancelingdies.

6. A mail sorting device, in combination with a sorting'mechanism aseries of speed rollers adapted to keep the mail pieces in transitinguide-ways at agraduated speed, means of conducting the mail pieces oftwo guide-ways directly to their respective canceling dies, turnersadapted-to receive the mail pieces of two guide-ways, means of actuatingsaid turner and means for controlling the action thereof to transposethe mail pieces therein into companion guide-ways of the mail piecesunturned to travel uniformly with the mail pieces in transit therein tothe respective canceling dies.

.Signedby me at Seattle, Washington, this unit G. HOPP. Witnesses JOHNB. OARWILE, ROBERT W. REID.

